R. Benton

Comparative single-cell transcriptomic atlases reveal conserved and divergent features of drosophilid central brains

This study compares single-cell transcriptomes of central brains across three Drosophila species to identify conserved and divergent features linked to ecological specialization.

Remote homolog detection places insect chemoreceptors in a cryptic protein superfamily spanning the tree of life

The paper identifies thousands of new 7-transmembrane ion channel homologs across diverse taxa using a pipeline combining structure-based methods and graph analysis, revealing a cryptic superfamily with deep evolutionary origins.

Evolution of circadian behavioral plasticity through cis-regulatory divergence of a neuropeptide gene

This study identifies cis-regulatory divergence in the Pdf gene as a driver of circadian behavioral plasticity evolution between Drosophila species.

Structural screens identify candidate human homologs of insect chemoreceptors and cryptic Drosophila gustatory receptor-like proteins

The paper identifies human homologs of insect chemoreceptors and cryptic Drosophila gustatory receptor-like proteins through structural and phylogenetic analyses.

Odor-gated oviposition behavior in an ecological specialist

This study identifies hexanoic acid and its receptor Ir75b as critical for odor-gated oviposition behavior in Drosophila sechellia, revealing evolutionary changes in olfactory tuning during host specialization.

Odorant receptor copy number change, co-expression, and positive selection establish peripheral coding differences between fly species

The paper examines how changes in odorant receptor copy number, co-expression, and positive selection contribute to species-specific olfactory coding differences in Drosophila.

A putative origin of insect chemosensory receptors in the last common eukaryotic ancestor

The paper identifies GRL proteins in unicellular eukaryotes and uses structure predictions to suggest their origin in the last common eukaryotic ancestor.

Molecular evolution of juvenile hormone esterase-like proteins in a socially exchanged fluid

The paper investigates the evolution of JH esterase-like proteins in ants, showing their role in regulating larval development through trophallaxis.